Pretty!! I think it all looks great together.

Just beautiful! The crema marfil has just the right tone for the granite and the moasaic is amazing. Be sure you find out the exact name...people will be asking! :-)

I think it'll all look great together. love the Crema Marfil honed tile.

and I'm anxious to know how you like the 2 levels of counter top once you start working in your ki*tchen!

I was about to post the same thing... I thought my b/s was going to be straightforward but I still need help with it!

Your kitchen is gorgeous, and I know it feels good to be getting this close! Those lights are beautifully unique.

I am soooo not good at backsplash and judging color, so I am willing to be totally wrong, and I'm sure whatever you do will look just lovely.

All the elements are wonderful. The thing that strikes me when I look at it is that they are competing rather than complementing, when they are all together. In context, the cabinets look slightly yellow compared to the pinkish of the marble, but your granite has some gold in it so I think the marble will go just fine. The competition between the pattern of the granite and that of the marble is the only reason I mention it.

The mosaics are amazing too, but when I see them together with the other elements, I'm just not sure it's the right thing. OTOH, some of those tiles really pick up the mercury glass. I would not rank my opinion too highly, if I were you, but maybe it would be good to see the bigger picture. Perhaps the mosaic area is focused enough that it would not detract but enhance the granite and marble and lights and cabinets. Can you show the lights and cooktop in the overall kitchen?

Of the two, I prefer the colors of the mosaic tiles over the pinkish marble though the mosaics are darker than I like.

I suspect the photos are not rendering true colors well so it would be best to judge it in person. Drag friends in to help if needed. Do look at them on sunny days, cloudy days and at night, under lighting. Despite the pink swirls, the granite is gold based. The marble is pinkish. The floors are golden. I can't really tell about the cabinets but they look more pink than yellow to me in the photos. Could be tricky finding the right backsplash that works with it all and shouldn't be judged by photos. Even in the ones you posted, the marble looks different in each of the photos-more creamy in one, golder in another and more pink in the third. Get more samples of marble to help judge. It will be easier to determine it's color (and the samples will probably vary, too) when there is more of it. When you find the right backsplash, you'll know it. There won't be any reservations in any lighting.

I'm contemplating my backsplash, too. I have a "gold" granite that has areas that lean to peach. Despite being "gold", other golds don't look great with it. However, copper and bronze tones do work well. Go figure.

Man, am I glad to be past the backsplash stage....

Anyway, first let me say those lights are spectacular. I can only imagine how they look at night. oooo

Now, can I be a pain in the rump? do you have any duct tape? Can you tape the mosaic over the stove, take a quick picture, and take it down before it crashes down? Reason I say that is, I don't think the mosaic will actually be touching the granite, and I think you need that distance to actually get a feel for how it will look. I think the colors work together, but without a different view, I can't tell if the mosaic is too "busy" for your granite. Oh, listen to me....I had to enter a contest so the decision would be made for me!

See if you can do that, and post another photo. I am guessing that the subway will be below the framed out area? If so, tape that up there too....we want the whole effect.

I love your pendents. I like that they are unique and yet seem to fit in with what I see of your kitchen.
On your tile I am by far not a good judge compaired to others here but I will share my thgouths. A lot will depend on where you want the focus to be. I like the colors together in the first 2 photos. They seem to compliment each other yet when I see the back splash upright it shows quiet dark and with the high contrast it could be overwhelming. So that leads me to ask what does the rest of your kitchen look like and what look are you wanting? This will make a difference. I also see the pinks in the Crema Marfa which might not be a bad thing because it softens the look. I lean towards a softer look so it could just be the way I see things, too.
Either way I'm sure it will look beautiful and I know you will enjoy being in your new kitchen.
Can I ask where you got your pendents?
Sunny

I'm sure glad I won't be groutin that backsplash!! It'll be beautiful when it's done, but man! The trip gettin there's gonna be tough for the installer!

I love your upper cabinets, peeking out of that photo with the classic window trim!

This is all a matter of taste of course... while those 1x1 mosaic tiles are unique and attractive, they would be too dark for me with the creme marfil and your light-colored cabinets.

I'd consider something more understated -- maybe a herringbone in creme marfil, within a frame, for behind the stove?

I think those mosaics are very Wow, and I think in your kitchen they will look fabulous! Looks like they will tie in the counter and floor really well too.

I agree with Eastbaymom. The mosaic is a bit dark for my taste also, but I tend to choose more neutral things which can add up to boring. And please do share the pendant info!

I find the textural interest in those mosaics wonderful! Now I admit to NOT going for the cream on cream understated look myself... especially in a backsplash. For me, the backsplash is where the fun begins. I don't think it'll be too dark but it's a great idea to duct tape them up there to see. Does your hood have the lights like your UC lights? That might make a difference.

Love how you did the lower cooktop counter. I may have to copy that idea. And your pendants... absolutely ROCK!

"Even in the ones you posted, the marble looks different in each of the photos-more creamy in one, golder in another and more pink in the third. Get more samples of marble to help judge."

I agree. I figured she could see the true color tho. we all see colors differently. I think the mosaic would be too heavy (that might not be the correct word here tho) with the marble if much is used. I think over the stove with an edge around it it'll work. i wouldn't like it intermingled with the marble all around but I really like the colors and patterns in the mosaic. I don't like mixing patterns much myself. if I go with pattern in my counter top, the BS will be a plain color - just painted. I'm just weird that way. others aren't.

seeing it 'pasted' up would help get the overall view.

I love your kitchen Techmom. Looks great.

I wonder about cleaning the mosaic tile. Has a lot of little grooves and places for to catch grease, etc. Just a thought.

The crema marfil is beautiful with your granite.

I think the marble might be a bit too pinky peach for the granite. Have you tried wetting it and putting it next to the granite? It will bring out more gold tones and be a better match for the granite I think. A sealer will give you the same color as wet.

I'm in the midst of uploaded pictures beekeeperswife - they'll be up in a few. It is so hard to get the colors accurate in photos - hopefuly the new ones will look better. The crema marfil looks good w/ the granite in most lights - looks good with the cabinets in some lights... I could always go with a cream-colored glass I guess...

Bill - never considered that - yikes - would I have to tape each tile so it doesn't get filled with grout???

iceqween - hmmm - excellent point - even with the fan that will get greasy - that might be really difficult to clean...

RE: everyone who questioned the dark mosaic - thanks - I need to give that some thought - hopefully pics will help you to help me get a better idea.

Eastbaymom - ironically, that's what I tend to love - the backsplashes which are monotone with the inset over the stove being complementary but maybe a different shape... But in addition to liking how unique these were and that they went so well w/ the granite, I am thinking I need to bring something shiny in to tie the pendants into the decor - but maybe not with this particular tile...

Speaking of pendants - for everyone who commented - Thank you! Info is on another thread - link is below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pendant thread

Okay - here are more pictures - apologies for the blue painters tape...

Here is a link that might be useful:

techmom,

I don't know if you intended to link to more pics, but it just took me to the first of your above pictures. However, clicking on one of the pictures themselves took me to your album.

The colors as they appear on my monitor are widely varied from pic to pic, but my kitchen does that too, depending on the lights and the camera setting and the time of day.

The first pic has me shifting my opinion. I do think from that angle and in context the colors pick up the granite perfectly. The dark tiles are not overwhelming, as long as you can guarantee that proportion. The dark ones that are there pick up the mercury glass and the dark knobs and hobs on your cooktop, and to my eye you almost need that for balance and contrast.

What I am still not sure about is the marble. It's not striking me as complementing or contrasting with the cabinets. I just can't picture what color would bring that about. What about one stripe of the mosaics across the middle, or across the top and bottom of the marble under the cabinets? That would work with the granite to break up the light cabinets, light marble, light cabinets, and tie them all together.

I think that mosaic is super cool. It looks great with your granite and will tie in your pendants beautifully. And the marble actually looks good to me too, though colors are really hard to tell--the camera does weird things to them, and computer screen settings have a huge influence too. Anyway, I just wanted to put in a vote--two big thumbs up--for both your choices!

I hate to be the party pooper here, but I think the marble is too light for the mosaic tile and countertop. I like the mosaic very much. I'd hold off a little bit and keep looking. You can always come back to the marble if you really love it.

hmm, I wonder if you could get a box of the marble and see how it looks. At this point, I'm really liking the mosaic but wonder how a large expanse of that marble subway is going to look with it. I'd actually keep the mosaic and try to get something more complementary to go with it.

(Why, oh why, is it easier to decide on someone else's backsplash than my own!!!)

Thanks so much for your comments!
It's the same in real life - sometimes the marble seems to complement the cabinets perfectly & sometimes it looks off - plus that's only one piece and of course w/ marble, like any natural stone there will be variation from piece to piece...
Re: proportion - I was going to do an insert (rectangle) of the mosaic with a chair-rail or pencil frame above the stove - but maybe I should put some of the "field" tile in there so it's not just a "blob" of mosaic...
Re: field tile - I'm going to look at other options - I liked the marble b/c it's neutral but natural and has some movement and is of course very rich looking b/c it's marble... But I agree that looking at more pieces of it would give me a better feel. I had looked at a simple off-white ceramic that matched my cabinet color - but that seemed too blah. The house is Victorian and I've brought the molding details into the kitchen to tie it in, so I feel that glass subway tiles would be too modern, but there's so much out there, I'm taking squigs and jb1176's advice and going to look at more options. In the mean time I'm still wondering how I'm going to CLEAN those mosaic tiles when they get greasy...???
Thanks again! I'm off to look at colleges w/ DS so probably won't be on for a few days - and maybe I'll squeeze in a few side trips to tile stores and let you know what I find!

I love the mosaics....quirky and I think it complements your counter top. I look forward to seeing what you select, I'm sure it will be great!!!

I absolutely love the mosaic, but am not sure about it in your kitchen. It looks a bit too dark considering how light your kitchen is. Also, I think there is too much of a contrast with the marble. However, I'm certainly not a designer and you should make choices that make you happy!

Anxious to learn what you ended up doing and would love to see a picture of the finished backsplash and design above range.